Details emerge in horrific train accident
Details emerge in horrific train accident
Tragedy struck in the Nevada desert Friday morning as an Amtrack train overturned on its way to Emeryville, California. Six passengers have been confirmed dead and dozens more cling to life in serious or critical condition. Twenty-eight passengers on board the train are still missing and unaccounted for, according to authorities.
As investigators sort through the wreckage, new details have emerged, including evidence of a history of reckless driving on the part of the truck driver involved in the accident, who was also killed.
In breaking news last week, an Amtrak train was traveling west through the Nevada desert when it was suddenly and tragically struck by a truck driver at a remote highway crossing 70 miles outside of Reno, Nevada. Two passenger cars were completely burned out and authorities were forced to wait until Saturday to begin examining the remains. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Commission were dispatched immediately to aid the efforts of Nevadian authorities.
Wasting no time at all, a lawsuit has been filed against the driver of the semi-truck that allegedly ignored train crossing signals and barreled through the intersection, as reported by two witnesses, also truck drivers.
Alarmingly, the driver has an extensive history of speeding tickets, accidents and reckless driving. As many have proclaimed, this driver had no business being behind the wheel of a big rig in the first place. In 2007, the truck driver was cited for colliding with the back of a Toyota Camry. The family involved in that crash also sued the driver, citing: "It was apparent Mr. Valli was at least a very distracted driver if not a driver who's conduct exhibited a disregard for the safety of others....That's evident by the damage he did to the [plaintiff's] vehicle."
The train accident lawsuit was filed just yesterday by a victim's family against the trucking company who employed the driver. In addition to the 2007 accident, the driver also had an exhaustive record of speeding violations. However, Nevada law protects drivers from losing their licenses if the citations are spread out far enough or do not meet a threshold top speed.
Lawsuit filings cite the trucking company who employed the driver was negligent in hiring an employee with such an extensive record of driving mishaps and should have exercised due caution in the retention and supervision of its employees.
The trucking company declined to comment on the lawsuits or details of the crash.
Posted by
